Rotary Civic Award winner a "visionary" for Downtown complex

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — The Evansville Rotary Club honored a man Tuesday whose vision led to a major development in Downtown Evansville.

Dr. Steven Becker is the club's Civic Award winner for 2017. The director and associate dean of Indiana University School of Medicine–Evansville, Becker was the driver behind the Stone Family Center for Health Sciences, a partnership of IU, the University of Southern Indiana, University of Evansville and area hospitals.

The complex will have 400-500 students in various medical disciplines, and students will work as resident physicians in the region. It is to open for classes in August.

Local officials are counting on Stone to provide a pipeline of new health professionals while also giving Downtown Evansville a boost.

Becker is credited for leading the charge for local and state funding for the development and for the herculean task of organizing such an endeavor.

"Steve is a risk taker that has blazed the trail for others. His dream became a vision, and his vision became a reality through hard work," Indiana Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch said in a video message.

"I don't know that any of us really understand the full impact that this school of medicine will have on our community," Old National Bank Chairman and CEO Bob Jones said.

Becker said he was "deeply humbled" to receive the award, and Rotary's "service above self" motto is exemplified in the Stone center.

"Hundreds and hundreds of people in our community have been involved in this project," Becker said. "And I think what has driven it is service above self. The idea, the vision is one thing, but it doesn't happen without literally hundreds of people believing that we can do something together much better than we can individually, and I think this project truly reflects that."